Dragi Šestić (born 14 May 1966) is Šestića Bosnian music producer, sound engineer, director of music video clips and record label owner. In 1998 he founded the first Bosnian World Music band, Mostar Sevdah Reunion. He rediscovered almost forgotten Gypsy music legends from ex-Yugoslavia Šaban Bajramović and Ljiljana Buttler-Petrović and brought them into the spotlight of the international World Music scene.
Šestić was born in Mostar, Bosnia and Herzegovina.
He worked with the famous maqaam (Maqam al-iraqi), star and only female master of it - Farida Ali from Iraq on her album Ishraqaat.
His work involved many of the Balkan stars, including the Queen of Gyspies Esma Redžepova, Boban Marković, Naat Veliov, Amira Medunjanin, Fulgerica, Ljubiša Stojanović Louis, and many more. His work can be found on many World Music compilations, but most of it is on his record label Snail Records, founded in 2002. He lives and works in the Netherlands.
Discography as a music producer
Mostar Sevdah Reunion: «Mostar Sevdah Reunion» (1999 – World Connection) Mostar Sevdah Reunion presents Šaban Bajramović: «A Gypsy Legend» (2001 World Connection) Ljiljana Buttler: «The Mother Of Gypsy Soul» (2002 Snail Records) Fulgerica and The Mahala Gipsies: «Gypsy Music From The City Of Bucharest» (2002 World Connection) Mostar Sevdah Reunion: «A Secret Gate» (2003 Snail Records) Amira: «Rosa» (2004 Snail Records) Branko Galoić: «Above The Roofs» (2005 Snail Records) Farida: «Ishraqaat» (2005 Snail Records) Mostar Sevdah Reunion and Ljiljana Buttler: «The Legends Of Life» (2005 Snail Records) Mostar Sevdah Reunion and Šaban Bajramović: «Šaban» (2006 Snail Records) Mostar Sevdah Reunion: «Cafe Sevdah» (2007 Snail Records) Ljiljana Buttler: «Frozen Roses» (2009 Snail Records) Sarr e Roma: «Sarayland» (2010 Snail Records) Louis: «The Last King Of The Balkans» (2011 Snail Records) Klezmofobia: «Kartushnik» (2012 Tiger Records) Mostar Sevdah Reunion: «Tales From A Forgotten City» (2013 Snail Records/ World Connection) Mostar Sevdah Reunion: «Kings Of Sevdah» (2016 Snail Records) Klapa Reful Split: «Heart Of Dalmatia» (2017 Snail Records) Mostar Sevdah Reunion presents Sreta: «The Balkan Autumn» (2018 Snail Records) Marin Jerkunica: «Badija» (2019 Snail Records) Mostar Sevdah Reunion: «Lady Sings The Balkan Blues» (2022 Snail Records) Mostar Sevdah Reunion: «Live in Sarajevo» (2023 Snail Records)
Awards
"Davorin" Bosnian Music Awards: Special Award 2002
"Davorin" Bosnian Music Awards: The Best Ethno Album Of The Year 2003 (for "The Mother of Gypsy Soul: Ljiljana Buttler") "Davorin" Bosnian Music Awards: The Best Album Of The Year 2004
Films
Mostar Sevdah Reunion by Pjer Žalica 2000
Sevdah the Bridge that Survived by Mira Erdevički 2005
Šaban by Miloš Stojanović 2007
Tales from a Forgotten City by Amir Grabus 2013
Balkan Blues: Stories from Mostar by Lucio de Candia 2016
References
Dragi Sestic- We need UNESCO's recognition of sevdalinka as heritage of the humanity Dragi Sestic - Sevdalinkas AKUZATIV - intervju sa Dragim Sesticem Dragi Sestic- Sevdalinka je moja najveca inspiracija Noizz inervju sa Dragim Sesticem AZRA - Dragi Sestic o nastanku i uspjesima kultnog Mostar Sevdah Reunion-a 6Moons - Ljiljana Buttler BBC Magazine - Music review Bangkok Post - Sounds of Balkan The Optimist NL - De warme gloed van bevroren rozen De Volkskrant NL - Mostar Sevdah Reunion De Volkskrant - Producer tegen wil en dank RAVNO DO DNA - Intervju Dragi Sestic NEDELJNIK - “Ako je Šaban još živ, i ako možeš da ga nađeš…” Dragi Šestić i priča o balkanskoj muzici koja je zavladala svetom PULSE - O usnama , o snu kad baba peva orkestar place SONGLINES MAGAZINE UK - BALKAN ALBUMS | THE ESSENTIAL 10